Device for actuating light switches



Nov. 15, 1955 J. B. COLETTA DEVICE FOR ACTUATING LIGHT SWITCHES Filed Feb. 27, 1953 fly? INE ZTNTQR.

6 31am flwm v A? mag United States Patent 2,724,032 DEVICE FOR ACTUATING LIGHT swrrcnEs JohnB. Coletta,1losemead, Calif. Application February 27, 1953, Serial No. 339,237

2 Claims. or. 200-172 This invention relates to switch actuators, and more particularly to an improved device enabling a child to actuate a light switch positioned at a height beyond its reach.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved light switch actuator which is simple in construction, which is easy to install, and which requires no modification of the existing light switch structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved light switch actuator enabling a child to actuate a light switch which is located above its reach, the actuator involving inexpensive components, being sturdy in construction, being inconspicuous in appearance, and being positive in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a wall type light switch provided with an improved actuator constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective detail view show ing the construction of the main portion of the actuator employed in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the top portion of a modified form of actuator constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 through 4, 11 designates the face plate of a conventional wall type light switch having the swingable toggle switch handle 12 which projects through a vertical slot 13 in the plate 11, the plate being secured to the main switch housing 14 by a pair of screws 15, 15 spaced above and below the slot 13, as illustrated. The switch plate 11 is of conventional construction and includes the inclined marginal flange 16, whereby the main portion of the switch plate is spaced away from the wall 17, the screws 15 extending through respective integral spacer sleeves 18 formed on the plate 11 and which engage the respective top and bottom portions of the front supporting bar element 19 to which is secured the switch body 20.

The form of switch actuator shown in Figures 1 to 4 is designated generally at 21 and comprises a rectangular frame member 22 having the horizontal top and bottom arms 23 and 24 and the inwardly offset vertical side arms 25 and 26. As shown in Figure 3, the side arms 25 and 26 are formed with the respective laterally extending lugs 27 and 28 integrally formed with the intermediate portions of the respective side arms 25 and 26 and spaced from the intermediate portions of said side arms by the laterally outwardly facing grooves 29 and 30 these portions of the arms 25 and 26 thereby serving as abutments.

Designated at 31 is an elongated rigid handle which is pivotally connected to the bottom arm 24 at 32 for swinging movement in a plane parallel to the plane of the frame member 22.

To install the device 21, the plate 11 is removed and the frame 22 is engaged with the plate: by inserting the lugs 27 and 28 through the slot 13, said lugs 27 and 28 being first engaged through the top and bottom end portions of the slot and the frame 22 being then rotated to engage the grooves 29 and 30 with the side edges of the slot 13. The plate 11 is then remounted on the switch by means of the securing screws 15, the handle 12 of the switch being engaged through the frame 22 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. It will be readily apparent that to operate the switch, it is merely necessary to pull downwardly on handle 31, where it is desired to rotate the switch handle 12 downwardly, and to push upwardly on the handle 31 when it is desired to rotate the switch handle 12 upwardly. Therefore, a child may readily operate the light switch by employing the handle 31 to actuate the switch handle 12.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the depending handle, shown at 31, is secured to the coiled lower end of a wire frame 22, said frame comprising the top arm 23, the bottom portion 24' which includes the coiled end portions 35 surrounding and secured to the top end of the handle 31, and the respective side arm portions 25 and 26' integrally formed with the inwardly offset, laterally directed, intermediate loops 27' and 23. The actuator illustrated in Figure 5 is installed in the same manner as the device 21, namely, by removing the switch plate, engaging the loops 27' and 28' through the slot 13, then rotating the frame 22 90 to engage the loops 27 and 28' behind the side edges of the slot 13. The switch plate 11 is then remounted, whereby the switch handle 12 may be actuated 'by vertically reciprocating the depending handle 31' of the actuator device.

Obviously, the frame portion 22 of the switch actuator illustrated in Figures 1 through 4 may 'be made of any suitable material, such as molded plastic, sheet metal, or the like.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved device for actuating an electric light switch have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations he placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a wall switch having a wall plate having a front face and a rear side and a vertically elongated slot having an upper end, said slot having opposed vertical side edges, and a toggle switch handle projecting forwardly through said slot and arranged to be swung toward either end or" said slot, a rectangular frame disposed along the front face of the wall plate, said frame consisting of a pair of vertical laterally spaced side arms positioned at opposite sides of said slot, said side arms having upper and lower ends, and outer and inner sides, said inner sides being arranged to bear against the front face of the wall plate, upper and lower horizontal top and bottom arms extending between the side arms, said top and bottom arms being secured at their opposite ends to the outer sides of the side arms at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the side arms, said top and bottom arms being positioned above and below the switch handle, respectively, and spaced forwardly from. the front face of the wall plate, lugs on the inner sides of the side arms, said lugs being spaced from the upper and lower ends of the side arms and extended rearwardly through the slot at opposite sides of the switch handle, said lugs Patented Nov. 15, 1955,

3 tei'fi'riliatixiga intlater'alaprojections engaging the rear side of the wall plateat the. opposite sides of the slot.

1 2. In combination, a wallvswitch having a wall plate having a front face and an elongated slot having opposed side edgesrand zaztoggleeswitch handleaprojecting through said slot and arranged to be swung toward eitherof the opposed'tends of saidzslot a spring wire .framezdisposed along;vtheafront faceaof the Wall plate, first loops on .and

' projectingiglaterally,outwardly;from; said frame and ten,

gagedt zbehind the vvallsplate; along ,the said; sidev :edges: of thet'wall plate, seeondqloops: on said frame opposedto said firstrloo'p's and engagingithefront-face ofthe wall .plate;

said :fra'me-;% having; rspaced endimembers arranged. at OppQsitmsidesL-iof:ttheaswitchhhandle and'vadjacent to the a a opposed ends*-of *said "slot; and an elongated "handle seeuredat one. end to said frame. at a point adjaeent to one of the frame end members, and means securing the handle to the frame to swing relative to the frame in a plane parallel to the wall plate, said means comprising a spring.

References Cited jn.the..file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS 2,382,738 Mdyse'sl. Aug. 14,1945 

